Rockets prepare to face coach who McHale fired during T-Wolves tenure

<center><b>April 26: Rockets 84, Hornets 77</b></center> Rockets forward Chase Budinger follows through on a dunk during the second half of the season finale against New Orleans at Toyota Center. Budinger finished with a season-high 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting to help the Rockets finished the year with a winning record.
<b>Record:</b> 34-32. less

<center><b>April 26: Rockets 84, Hornets 77</b></center> Rockets forward Chase Budinger follows through on a dunk during the second half of the season finale against New Orleans at Toyota Center. Budinger ... more

Photo: Pat Sullivan / Associated Press

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<center><b>April 22: Heat 97, Rockets 88</b></center> Heat forward LeBron James, right, posts up Rockets forward Chandler Parsons during their game in Miami. Parsons scored a career-high 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting, but James' game-high 32 points led the Heat to a victory that officially eliminated the Rockets from playoff contention.
<b>Record:</b> 33-32. less

<b><center>April 11: Jazz 103, Rockets 91</center></b> Rockets guard Goran Dragic, left, tries to control ball after Jazz guard Devin Harris knocks it from him during the first quarter. Dragic led the Rockets with 19 points and seven assists, but the Jazz stalled Houston's attempt at a late rally.
<b>Record:</b> 32-26. less

<b><center>April 11: Jazz 103, Rockets 91</center></b> Rockets guard Goran Dragic, left, tries to control ball after Jazz guard Devin Harris knocks it from him during the first quarter. Dragic led the Rockets ... more

<b><center>April 8: Rockets 104, Kings 87</center></b> Rockets guard Courtney Lee, left, goes to the basket against Kings guard Jimmer Fredette, right, during the first quarter. Lee had game highs of 25 points and four steals as the Rockets sprinted to their third consecutive victory.
<b>Record:</b> 31-25. less

<center><b>April 6: Rockets 112, Lakers 107</b></center> Goran Dragic, right, had 26 points and 11 assists to help the Rockets hold off the Los Angeles Lakers on the road and win their their second straight game.
<b>Record:</b> 30-25. less

<center><b>April 6: Rockets 112, Lakers 107</b></center> Goran Dragic, right, had 26 points and 11 assists to help the Rockets hold off the Los Angeles Lakers on the road and win their their second straight ... more

<center><b>March 18: Suns 99, Rockets 86</b></center> Rockets guard Goran Dragic (3) gets the balled stripped by Phoenix's Sebastian Telfair (31) during the second quarter. Dragic finished with 16 points, eight assists and four steals against his former team, but he wasn't able to lift the Rockets past the Suns. <b>Record:</b> 24-22. less

<center><b>March 4: Clippers 105, Rockets 103 (OT)</b></center> Clippers guard Chris Paul, right, tries to keep up with Rockets guard Kevin Martin during the second half. Martin led the Rockets with 25 points, but Paul scored a game-high 28 to help the Clippers capture a tight victory and send Houston to its third straight loss. <b>Record:</b> 21-17. less

<center><b>Feb. 28: Rockets 88, Raptors 85</b></center>
Kevin Martin (12) of the Houston Rockets goes for a shot between DeMar DeRozan (10) and James Johnson (2) of the Toronto Raptors.
<b>Record:</b> 21-14. less

<center><b>Feb. 28: Rockets 88, Raptors 85</b></center>
Kevin Martin (12) of the Houston Rockets goes for a shot between DeMar DeRozan (10) and James Johnson (2) of the Toronto Raptors.
<b>Record:</b> ... more

Photo: George Bridges / McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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<center><b>Feb. 22: Rockets 93, 76ers 87</b></center> Rockets forward Luis Scola (4) works against Philadelphia 76ers center Nikola Vucevic during the first half. Scola recorded a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Rockets to their third consecutive victory. <b>Record:</b> 20-14. less

<center><b>Feb. 19: Rockets 101, Jazz 85</b></center> Jazz forward Paul Millsap, left, is called for a blocking foul against Rockets point guard Kyle Lowry in the second half. Lowry scored a game-high 32 points and added nine assists. <b>Record:</b> 18-14. less

<center><b>Feb. 19: Rockets 101, Jazz 85</b></center> Jazz forward Paul Millsap, left, is called for a blocking foul against Rockets point guard Kyle Lowry in the second half. Lowry scored a game-high 32 ... more

<b><center>Feb. 14: Grizzlies 93, Rockets 83</center></b> Grizzlies forward Marreese Speight, right, defends against Rockets guard Kyle Lowry (7) in the first half. Lowry recorded a game-high 24 points, but he was the only Rockets starter to score in double figures. <b>Record:</b> 16-13. less

<b><center>Feb. 6: Rockets 99, Nuggets 90</center></b> Rockets forward Luis Scola (4) reaches for the ball against Nuggets center Kosta Koufos during the first quarter. Scola scored a game-high 25 points on 10-of-20 shooting to help the Rockets hold off a late rally by the Nuggets. <b>Record:</b> 14-11. less

<b><center>Feb. 3: Rockets 99, Suns 81</center></b> Rockets guard Kevin Martin shoots a basket during the second half of Friday night's game against the Suns at Toyota Center. He finished with a game-high 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, helping the Rockets snap a two-game losing streak. <b>Record:</b> 13-10. less

<b><center>Feb. 3: Rockets 99, Suns 81</center></b> Rockets guard Kevin Martin shoots a basket during the second half of Friday night's game against the Suns at Toyota Center. He finished with a game-high 16 ... more

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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<b><center>Feb. 1: Spurs 99, Rockets 91</center></b> San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard (2) battles Rockets forward Luis Scola (4) and center Samuel Dalembert during Wednesday night's game at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Scola and Dalembert struggled against the Spurs, combining for only eight points on 4-of-12 shooting. <b>Record:</b> 12-10. less

<b><center>Jan. 30: Timberwolves 120, Rockets 108</center></b>Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love (42) hustles to get to a rebound before Rockets small forward Chase Budinger (10) and center Samuel Dalembert ... more

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Chronicle

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<b><center>Jan. 27: Rockets 97, Knicks 84</center></b> Forward Chase Budinger (10) scored a team-high 19 points in 24 minutes off the bench to help the Rockets win for the ninth time in 10 games. <b>Record:</b> 12-8. less

<b><center>Jan. 27: Rockets 97, Knicks 84</center></b> Forward Chase Budinger (10) scored a team-high 19 points in 24 minutes off the bench to help the Rockets win for the ninth time in 10 games. ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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<b><center>Jan. 27: Rockets 103, Wizards 76</center></b> Rockets power forward Luis Scola goes in for a layup during Friday night's game against the Wizards at Toyota Center. Scola had 19 points and eight rebounds to help lead the Rockets to their eighth win in nine games. <b>Record:</b> 11-8. less

<b><center>Jan. 27: Rockets 103, Wizards 76</center></b> Rockets power forward Luis Scola goes in for a layup during Friday night's game against the Wizards at Toyota Center. Scola had 19 points and eight ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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<b><center>Jan. 25: Bucks 105, Rockets 99</center></b> Chandler Parsons, center, had 16 points and five assists but it wasn't enough to prevent the Rockets' winning streak from ending at seven games. <b>Record:</b> 10-8. less

<b><center>Jan. 25: Bucks 105, Rockets 99</center></b> Chandler Parsons, center, had 16 points and five assists but it wasn't enough to prevent the Rockets' winning streak from ending at seven games. ... more

<b><center>Jan. 14: Rockets 107, Trail Blazers 105 (OT)</b></center> Guard Kyle Lowry (7) scored 33 points, including a crucial 3-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation, to help the Rockets hold off ... more

Photo: Michael Paulsen / Chronicle

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<b><center>Jan. 13: Rockets 103, Kings 89</b></center> Center Samuel Dalembert (21) had his best game as a Rocket, recording 21 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks to help Houston beat his former team. <b>Record:</b> 4-7. less

<b><center>Jan. 13: Rockets 103, Kings 89</b></center> Center Samuel Dalembert (21) had his best game as a Rocket, recording 21 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks to help Houston beat his former team. ... more

<b><center>Dec. 30: Grizzlies 113, Rockets 93</b></center> Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) roughed up the Rockets' defense for 23 points and nine rebounds to lead his squad to a victory in Memphis, Tenn. <b>Record:</b> 1-2. less

<b><center>Dec. 30: Grizzlies 113, Rockets 93</b></center> Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) roughed up the Rockets' defense for 23 points and nine rebounds to lead his squad to a victory in Memphis, Tenn. ... more

Photo: Nikki Boertman / AP

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<b><center>Dec. 29: Rockets 105, Spurs 85</b></center> Kevin Martin goes in for two of his game-high 25 points as the Rockets soared past the Spurs in their home opener. <b>Record:</b> 1-1. less

<b><center>Dec. 29: Rockets 105, Spurs 85</b></center> Kevin Martin goes in for two of his game-high 25 points as the Rockets soared past the Spurs in their home opener. <b>Record:</b> ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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<b><center>Dec. 26: Magic 104, Rockets 95</b></center> Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu, right, had a game-high 23 points to help send the Rockets to a loss in their season opener in Orlando, Fla. <b>Record:</b> 0-1. less

<b><center>Dec. 26: Magic 104, Rockets 95</b></center> Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu, right, had a game-high 23 points to help send the Rockets to a loss in their season opener in Orlando, Fla. <b>Record:</b> ... more

Photo: John Raoux / AP

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Rockets prepare to face coach who McHale fired during T-Wolves tenure

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McHale turns diplomat

The Wizards replaced one coach whom Rockets coach Kevin McHale hired and fired when he was Timberwolves general manager, Flip Saunders, with another, Randy Wittman.

But McHale said little about the coaching change Thursday.

“I’m not that worried about Washington,” McHale said. “We play them tomorrow night, and that’s the last time I’ll think about them until next year. We don’t play them again.

“I’ll prepare tonight, watch film of them all afternoon. We’ll prepare for them. Other than that, I’m not thinking about them.”

Hill, Booker await meeting

Inseparable as children, Rockets center Jordan Hill and Wizards forward Trevor Booker have never been on an NBA court at the same time.

Booker did not play in the meetings with the Rockets last season. Both played for 11 minutes in Washington on Jan. 16, but with Booker starting and Hill coming off the bench, they never played against each other.

Cousins who grew up together in the summers that Hill spent in Atlanta, going through no-fouls, one-on-one sessions, they expect to get their first chance to compete in an NBA game tonight, with Booker, like Hill, coming off the bench.

“It’s hard to believe, man,” Hill said. “We talked about it a couple times: how they came here, we went there, and we still have not been on the same court at the same time.”

Coach applauds effort at practice

With the Rockets beginning a back-to-back Friday night, they went through an unusually long practice Thursday.

But much of the practice was spent watching video and walking through corrections. When they scrimmaged, players sought a longer session.

“We watched some film, ran through a really good practice,” coach Kevin McHale said. “We have to play true to our identity, which is moving, passing and cutting, playing aggressive.
“I could sense we had some guys who were injured, so our (prior) practices were really light.

“But sometimes, you see the film, you watch yourself do it. The players I think saw what we saw. The film doesn’t lie.

“They were ready to go today. I said I wanted to cut it off. They said, ‘No, let’s play one more segment.’ ”